The rhythmic Georgia coast

I had the opportunity to visit the Georgia on a FAM trip sponsored by Georgia Tourism after Travel South 2007. Traveling from Savannah all the way down to the Okefenokee Swamp at the southern border of the state, we islehopped all along the coastline to catch the best opportunities for groups.

The first two things I noticed about the Georgia coast were the salt air and the small-town hum lilting among the live oaks. This is a place to come just to be, where your very pulse slows to match the rhythm of the conversation and the warmth of the summer breeze.

Savannah, which is like New Orleans without the lasciviousness of the French
Quarter, has the buzz of a major city and the spice and grit of a complicated past.

Mary, our docent, was a modern Southern belle with a finished yet warm appearance and an accent like molasses. Our bus driver couldn’t stop – the meter maid was behind us – but as she told it, he couldn’t go slow enough while she regaled us with the history of “Slowvannah’s” various public squares.

These squares, so emblematic of the city, were in danger of being demolished in
the 1950s to make way for parking lots before becoming a National Historic Landmark District in 1966.

The remarkable thing about Savannah, and about the layout of the city, is that
it’s always been both pedestrian- and driver-friendly. The squares and streets
never had to be widened to accommodate the traffic. The city, save for a handful of squares lost to 20th-Century construction efforts, remains in the same layout since before the Revolution.

A day to roam the Historic District is in order, with many restaurants, historical
attractions, shopping and peoplewatching opportunities for your group. For those not counting the calories, Lady & Sons, Paula Deen’s restaurant, is a
great buffet-style restaurant to visit together. The group will be glad they
didn’t have to go alone, too, as people start waiting in line as early as 8 a.m. to
get a lunch reservation!

A quick drive from Savannah is the Richmond Hill Plantation in Richmond Hill. Henry Ford’s former home is a stunning dining option, if only to check out the
countryside. As you approach, you feel as if you’ve entered a historical novel, with that true silence only achieved in the country. The plantation’s interior is all
antebellum opulence as well, with service that is well suited for both small and large groups.

Floating south along I-95, you will soon veer east toward Brunswick and the Golden Isles. Brunswick is a great place to hub in this area, as it is centrally located near so many of the area’s groupfriendly attractions.

St. Simons Island, a quaint and calm area with a long maritime history, is the
largest of the Golden Isles. The St. Simons Island Maritime Center has a fun
exhibit highlighting the life of fictional character, Ollie, during his stint as a sailor
in World War II. The museum is also great for intergenerational groups, with handson learning opportunities available throughout the facility. This can be a
quick stop or an extended visit that includes the nearby (and purportedly
haunted) St. Simons Lighthouse.

Down the road from the Maritime Center is Fort Frederica, founded in 1736 by General Oglethorpe, three years after he had founded Savannah. Known as Georgia’s second town, the fort saw 14 years of military activity, including the
Battle of Bloody Marsh. The area cannot be reached by motor vehicle, but the
interpretive center is handicap-accessible and senior-group-friendly.

Jekyll Island, to the south of St. Simons, has “one” major attraction – the Jekyll Island Club Hotel – but this one attraction could be a vacation on its own. As the former winter destination to the Rockefellers, the Vanderbilts and many other 19th-century elites, along with their families and servants, Jekyll Island was a self-sufficient living area from 1886-1942, including an exclusive hunting grounds.

The reasons for the club’s demise are “ S l o w d o w n , J o h n . T h e y ’ l l g o a r o u n d u s . ”

By Kelley Thompson

Courtesy of leisuregrouptravel.com